Sikkim Organic Award | Latest Burning Issues

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WHAT IS ORGANIC FARMING?

It is a method of farming system which primarily aimed at cultivating the land and raising crops in such a way, as to keep the soil alive and in good health by use of organic wastes (crop, animal and farm wastes, aquatic wastes) and other biological materials along with beneficial microbes (biofertilizers) to release nutrients to crops for increased sustainable production in an eco friendly pollution free environment.

WHAT HAPPENED RECENTLY?

Sikkim was awarded UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) Future Policy Gold Award (Gold Prize) for its achievement in becoming the world’s first totally organic agriculture state. (Food and Agriculture Organization HQ – Rome, Italy)

OTHER THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Sikkim beat out 51 other nominees from around the world for the award. Policies from Brazil, Denmark and Quito (Capital of Ecuador) were jointly Silver Awards.

FUTURE POLICY GOLD AWARD

The prizes honour exceptional policies adopted by political leaders who have decided to act, no longer accepting widespread hunger, poverty or environmental degradation.
This award in nicknamed the “Oscar for best policies”. Previously it was honoured for policies combating desertification, violence against women and girls, nuclear weapons and pollution of the oceans. 2018 This year’s award based on central focus of agroecology policies and was co-organised by FAO, World Future Council (WFC) and IFOAM – Organics International. Agroecology has potential to increase farmers’ earnings and make farms more resilient to climate change as erratic rainfall and extended dry periods hamper food production.

SIKKIM’S ACHIEVEMENTS

Sikkim is first organic state in the world and all farmlands in the state are certified organic. State’s policy approach reaches beyond organic production and has proven transformational for its citizens. Transition to 100% organic state also has greatly benefited its tourism sector and numbers of tourists have increased by over 50% between 2014 and 2017. With this Sikkim has set excellent example for other Indian states and countries worldwide for successfully upscale agroecology.

ORGANIC FARMING IN THE WORLD

Land under organic farming as data suggested by IFOAM and Research Institute Of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) 2015 data

THE PRODUCERS

ORGANIC FOOD MARKET IN INDIA

Organic produce is an emerging market in India, clocking a turnover of Rs3,350 crore in 2016
The organic products market in India has been growing at a CAGR of 25 per cent and it is expected to touch ₹10,000- ₹12,000 crore by 2020 from the current market size of ₹ 4,000 crore, according to a report produced jointly by Assocham and Ernst & Young.

LOT OF $$$ TO BE MADE

Even though India has the highest number of farmers currently engaged in organic farming at 8,35,000, the country accounts for less than 1 per cent the global organic market pie which is valued at $90 billion in 2016, the report said.

MAJOR PROBLEM – CERTIFICATION PROCESS

One of the major challenges faced by consumers who buy organic products by paying so much premium is that whether they can trust the product to be authentic or not
At the farmer level, getting certification and auditing done was still a cumbersome process, which takes up to 3-4 years. A farmer who is switching from conventional farming to organic farming has to bear a huge cost in the initial years and there is very little support available to him to make that switch